The Gatling Gun

Low-budget, by-the-numbers western, routine in every department: writing, direction, acting, you name it. The plot is nothing special: a ragtag detachment of soldiers must protect a new Gatling gun from falling into the hands of rampaging Indians. A somewhat decent cast gives this picture a bit more than just a passing interest, but not much more. Phil Harris looks out of place, John Carradine was at a point in his career where he took just about anything and everything that was offered to him--which explains why he's in this--Guy Stockwell looks tired, and the only even remotely energetic performance is given by veteran western actor and John Ford favorite Woody Strode. Listlessly directed and sloppily written, this cheap-looking film has a burst of action near the end that breaks the monotony, but not enough to make it worth sitting through. Skip it.

i don't watch many westerns,the few I've seen i actually enjoy.this was one of them.a Gatling gun is being sought by the apache,and the us calvary led by guy stock well must overcome all odds to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.talk about a stellar cast.when i found John Carridine was in this,i just had to watch. Carridine was one of the greatest actors that ever lived,he plays a preacher,also in the cast is Pat Butram(Mr Haney of green acres)woody strode,Barbara Luna and Patrick Wayne(son of John Wayne)its a wild wild western,a good cast and good story.8 out of 10.all in all a very well made western made by universal in 1973.

(1972) Gatling Gun ENGLISH DUBBED SPAGHETTI WESTERN

Low budget western which also a history lesson centers on a double crosser Yankee, Pvt. Sneed (Robert Fuller) who steals a gatling gun so that he can sell it to some comanches. The Union soldiers eventually get it back except that the gun doesn't work, mainly because they're some missing parts, unbeknownst where they're. And as the film progresses, viewers don't know whether they will ever survive this desert since the comanches outnumber their regiment 3 to one.

Acting is lousy as well as the production values where you'd see some Indians getting shot earlier in the film, but then it's like some of those very same Indians who were supposed to be killed got up again.

Disappointingly routine western. Not bad enough to be funny, not good enough to be enjoyable.

The plot is a cliche: a bunch of bluejackets tries to protect a machinegun from an indian tribe in the desert. The indians are evil, the soldiers are (mostly) good and righteous, and the women are ornaments.

2/10 because it's not overlong...

I admit, the only reason I picked this one, was to see Dr. Brackett (Robert Fuller) in a different uniform. I'll forego echoing what the other's here have posted, as I agree with all of them; it's just a so-so, typical below-grade Western.

I will comment on the cinematography, or lack thereof. This almost looks like it was shot in 16mm and not 35mm film. Whatever film stock they were using, didn't hold up over the decades. It's very washed out - the whites are too white and the dark too dark. The reds are very bright, which I believe, is a degradation of the film stock. So many films from the latter part of the 20th century suffer from this. Thanks Kodak!

Also, the clarity is lacking, it's borderline fuzzy, at least the copy being shown on my free-Western channel. Compare this film to One-Eyed Jack from 1960, and it's like night and day.

This really has a made-for-tv feel to it. Lots of dialogue and not a lot of panorama shots.

One positive - there's a redheaded chick in the flick and her hair looks great : )

2nd positive - Mr. Haney from Green Acres is in it !